SoHo Welcomes first ever NYFW BLK — Queen Size Magazine

Last month was not your traditional **New York Fashion Week** in Manhattan, a new breakthrough event exploded onto the industry scene, **NYFW BLK.** An overwhelming response swept the airway as the recognition placed on the emerging black designer went viral. **NYFW BLK** has become unapologetically the new home for the black fashion designer planting their roots in Soho. While giving honor and tribute to the Black giants of the fashion industry, who have shaped and styled our contemporary raiment and coiffure; among them legendary ***Vogue*** EAL **Andre Leon Talley**, wardrobe icon **Dapper Afrika**, peerless stylist **Taijuan Wilcox**, global *couturier* **Fashenelle**, and an entire plethora of great Black designers and stylists who have preceded them. This new vision of inclusion and representation was essential *for* emerging Black Designers looking to share their gifts with the world. Working in partnership with its nonprofit, the **Black Fashion Foundation**, which will offer scholarships, product placement, PR, marketing and branding in conjunction with major Fortune 500 companies, **NYFW BLK** is advancing access to designers who often encounter obstacles to entering the industry.

Accomplishing the goal of creating a permanent, sustainable space for gifted, black designers to express their artistic vision for many seasons to come, NYFW BLK far exceeded its attendance expectations. Originally planned for a small group of 40-60 patrons, hundreds turned out for this vanguard event, forming a long line down the block of Crosby St. outside the venue, to witness fashion history in the making. The creator of NYFW BLK, 28 Season NYFW veteran Nichole M Bess., has always been inspired by the iconic Harlem Fashion Row, and characterized the debut gathering with the saying, “This is not about exclusion, but all about inclusion”. The standout crowd in attendance included influencers, industry powerhouses, and other luminaries eager to observe the new pantheon of talents that assembled to display their groundbreaking works. These designers all agree that if not for the spotlight afforded them by NYFW BLK, their contributions to the industry might well have gone unnoticed.
The premiere of NYFW BLK had much to offer its patrons: a major highlight was a dedicated Pop-Up Shop hosted by groundbreaking designer and influencer Shaquita Garcia of Aart NYC, surrounded with two days of fashion shows featuring 11 exemplary designers, a mural crafted by Nigerian Fine Artist Dapo Davinci, also featuring a private showing by New York based designer Scoge’, and concluding with a Dove Release paying homage to Dapper Afrika, Taijuan Wilcox, and Shenelle Evans. Media coverage for this premier weekend of Black fashion included Pix11 News, CNBC, Pretty Women Who Hustle, and Fashion Week Online while filming a docu-series entitled, The Making of NYFW BLK. Looking ahead to September and beyond, Nichole M. Bess will power forward with the Black Fashion Foundation to elevate more emerging Black designers onto the runway. For more info, visit the NYFW BLK website. NYFW BLK was fiercely powered by UP FASHION PRODUCTION and sponsored by Beauty Water, So Bar, She Beauty by Chi, Lucy Lou and Marg Le Maison, Iconic Body by X, Girl Boss Suites, Wine Down 4 Me and many more.

QSM: Serial Entrepreneur.
Nichole: I am a Publicist, Airbnb Coach, Skinpreneur, and soon to be Executive Producer.

QSM: We know that you are a powerhouse but give us a couple of facts about Nichole personally.
Nichole: I never thought that I’d particularly soar in Fashion. My dreams were to go to school for Political Science at Tuskegee, pledge and become a politician.

I always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I made my first perfume at the age of 9 and my first customer was my mom. By the age 12 I started my own babysitters club with 6 children. I gave my first fashion show in the 7th grade with sponsors.

My first fashion show in college was a collection of trash bag dresses made of actual trash bags.

QSM: IMPRESSIVE! Initially, what brought you into the world of fashion?
Nichole: My mom always loved fashion and I think she wanted to vicariously live through me. So she set up my interview at the International Academy of Design and I got in. At the tender age of 17, I moved to Tampa, FL location.

Later, I was afforded the opportunity by a teacher in Tampa to go to NY and intern for Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons who then introduced me to Naomi Campbell and her cousin Desiree so then I took a leap of faith to NYC.

QSM: Given your background, you are no stranger to working with large productions. Can you share some insight on what that process was like?

Nichole: I’ve never been the one to wait for approval or pry my way into cliques. Naturally creative and once I was introduced to the tents in Bryant Park, I worked for 29 seasons and decided that it was time to produce a show that was solely for the melanated designer. Treading muddy waters because although we are familiar with notable black designers, we are still no stranger to racism within the industry. So I took all that I learned and gave birth to NYFW BLK.

QSM: How long did you have this idea of producing NYFW BLK before you implemented it?

Nichole: Less than 2 months. I was scared to call it BLK at first but one day I woke up and said that we are the culture influencers! WHY NOT!

QSM: TWO MONTHS? I am literally giving you a standing ovation right now. That is beyond impressive. NYFW BLK during Black History month is groundbreaking. Why was this important to you?
Nichole: Because Soho is a decidedly white neighborhood that has a history of not being so welcoming to minorities. This country was built on the back of my ancestors so I will always be welcomed.

QSM: Can we talk about the process of choosing the designers? Each one brought a unique flavor and presented very well. Just curious; was there a method behind your selections?
Nichole: No Method. They were all different from different backgrounds and that’s what made it unique and the became family in the end.

QSM: In one of your previous interviews you did, you said “I was doing a lot of filling, but I wasn’t feeling fulfilled”. Can you elaborate more on that and what steps you took to fulfil yourself?
Nichole: I took time to get to know myself, court myself and talk to myself. I paid close attention to myself and the things I liked, disliked, loved and hated. At that point I began to create boundaries and spend more time in the places with the people I loved, working on projects that I loved - not needed.

QSM: Is NYFW BLK here to stay? and if so, what can we expect next?
Nichole: Here to stay! My children will give awards in my honor to black designers when I am dead and gone. Please expect a production that will get better and brighter every-time, attracting the Melanated from around the globe and partnering with the biggest companies and business owners we know.

QSM: What advice can you offer to anyone who is looking to stepping into the world of entrepreneurship?
Nichole: Humble yourself and Get a Mentor!

For more info, to support and find out what Nichole Bess is up to, follow her on IG at @nicholembess and @nyfwblk. Or you can subscribe to her websites www.Nicholembess.com and www.nyfwblk.com
We want to see you all at the next NYFW BLK